LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Improving Kaua'i in the midst of an economic downturn is a common theme for Kaua'i's mayoral candidates.

Expanding the Garden Island's bus service, recycling more rubbish and curbing the conversion of farmlands to upscale house lots are some issues on which the candidates appear to agree.

Kaua'i County Council members JoAnn Yukimura, Mel Rapozo and county parks director Bernard Carvalho Jr. "all care deeply about the island and they have different approaches" to addressing Kaua'i's challenges, said Diane Zachary, president of the nonprofit Kaua'i Planning and Action Alliance.

"The passion they each bring to their candidacy is commendable," Zachary said. Like many on this "small-town" island with a population of 63,000, Zachary won't say who she thinks would make the best mayor, since she'll have to work with whomever is elected.

"These are three people with experience in government. We've had a chance to see all three in the public eye," Zachary said.

Though the election is non-partisan, all three identify themselves as Democrats.

Each of the major candidates had planned on running for mayor in 2010, when former Mayor Bryan Baptiste's second four-year term would have expired. But Baptiste's untimely June 22 death triggered a special mayor's election to fill the final two years of his term.

A candidate must get more than 50 percent of votes cast to be elected in the primary election on Sept. 20. If no one achieves that, the top two vote-getters will be in a run-off election on Nov. 4.

Rolf Bieber, a 42-year-old middle school computer technician who moved here from California, also is running. His promise to donate the mayor's $107,000 salary to charity if elected has drawn some attention, but he is a long shot against three born-and-raised Kauaians who've been active in the community.

HONOR FRIEND'S LEGACY

Carvalho's theme: "Together we can."

Bernard Carvalho Jr., 46, emphasizes that he wants to be a consensus builder like his mentor, Baptiste, who was praised for his inclusiveness and criticized for being slow to act.

"I want to honor the mayor's projects and fulfill his legacy," said Carvalho, who was Baptiste's friend and campaign manager. "But I do have my own thoughts and ideas.

"I want to hear where people are coming from and what they are saying and then will make a decision," Carvalho said.

Carvalho, who has never held an elected office, said his 17 years of county civil service work in recreation programs, topped with the past six years in the Baptiste administration, give him the knowledge of how to get things done in Kaua'i County government.

As a department head, Carvalho has been in charge of Baptiste's affordable housing initiatives, the ongoing East Kaua'i walking and biking path, cooperative cleanups at Hanama'ulu and Black Pot county beach parks, and county support for new homeless shelters.

He also worked 10 years in customer service for Aloha Airlines and as an emcee for a Kaua'i lu'au show, but still found time to volunteer for community projects. He's on leave from his county job as of Aug. 25 to campaign.

Baptiste's widow, Annette, former Hawai'i Gov. George Ariyoshi and University of Hawai'i Athletic Director Jim Donovan, who played UH football alongside Carvalho, have endorsed him.

Carvalho said that with $92,000 raised so far and more coming in, "we're feeling optimistic that we'll have enough funding to get our message out effectively."

THE FORMER MAYOR

Yukimura's slogan: "Keep Kaua'i Kaua'i."

JoAnn Yukimura said her accomplishments as mayor (1988-1994), and 14 years on the council (in three segments, the most recent from 2002 to now) give her the best qualifications for the job.

"It's easy to say something. It's a lot harder when the rubber meets the road," Yukimura said. "That's where I've been getting it done."

Yukimura pointed out that as mayor, she started the Kaua'i Bus service and the Sunshine farmers markets, got the county through the Hurricane Iniki cleanup, computerized county accounting "from scratch" and established the Kaua'i Film Commission. She recently championed council bills that give Kaua'i the state's strongest rules on building setbacks from the ocean and attempt to curb illegal vacation rentals.

If Yukimura, a 58-year-old attorney, has a mantra, it's plan, plan, plan.

"One of my gifts is vision — being ahead and helping to create things the community needs," she said.

Her political career began with election to the Kaua'i County Council in 1976, where she often was the lone voice for controlling growth and preserving open space. Over the years, more people have become concerned about those issues, even as Yukimura has moderated her formerly combative stance into a search for "win-win" outcomes.

Yukimura wouldn't say what she has raised for her campaign so far, but said she wouldn't be surprised to equal Baptiste's spending of $200,000-plus in the primary two years ago. She isn't touting any endorsements by name, but said, "A lot of people have been encouraging me, expressing gladness that I'm running."

THE UNDERDOG

Rapozo's motto: "No excuses, just results."

When Mel Rapozo, a 43-year old former Kaua'i police sergeant and Hawai'i Air National Guard member, announced his candidacy he said there would be "no fluff" in his administration.

"It's time to have a realist in that office — regardless of the political impact," he said.

"Community input is vital, but you cannot rely on consensus to make a decision," Rapozo said of his leadership style.

Rapozo, who has been on the Kaua'i County Council since 2002, also runs M & P Legal Support Services, a private detective agency, and said he understands the issues of small businesses.

He calls himself the underdog candidate, but said he'll work hard to come from behind. He's chairman of the County Council's public works committee and said his priorities including keeping county spending in bounds, while investing in needed infrastructure such as a landfill expansion, sewer and road improvements.

High on his to-do list are agreements with private landowner Grove Farm for the county to improve and use cane field roads as temporary contraflow lanes to ease rush-hour traffic from Lihu'e west to Maluhia Road and north to Wailua.

Rapozo said being president of the Hawai'i State Association of Counties gives him better working relationships with other county, state and federal leaders than his opponents. Those connections could help bring in needed dollars in lean economic times, he said.

He said he'd appoint a Green Committee to reduce energy use and improve efficiency in every aspect of county government.

Rapozo is endorsed by the United Public Workers union, which represents about 300 Kaua'i County employees; the Hawai'i Firefighters Association; Council member Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho, who is running unopposed for county prosecutor; and Kaua'i Living Treasure Jose Bulato Jr. of Kekaha. He said he expects to spend $150,000 to $200,000 on the campaign.

"The mayoral race is a very interesting one. Voters have a good selection to choose from and they are very distinct in what they bring to the table," said Kurt Akamine, government affairs chairman for the Kaua'i Chamber of Commerce.